Don Charles Bragg, 53, of Monticello, and born in Rhinelander, Wisc., died suddenly in a house explosion on Saturday, December 30, 2023. He was a graduate of Rhinelander High School in 1988 and received his BS and MS in Forestry from Michigan Technological University in 1992 and 1995, respectively. It was there that he met the love of his life, fellow Forestry student Hope Pruden. The couple married in 1996 and moved to Utah for Don’s doctoral work. Don earned his PhD in Forest Ecology from Utah State University in 1999. Don was employed as a Research Forester at the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Station in Monticello from 2000 to present.
During their marriage, the family had three children, Kenneth (Kenny) age 22, Elizabeth (Beth) age 19, and Stephen, age 16. The family were active members of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Monticello and the Arkansas Archeological Society. The adventures of “Bragg Family South” took them across the country numerous times, visiting state and national parks, Catholic churches, historic sites, and interesting restaurants along the way. They made friends across the country, working on their various projects. As a family (and they were together every chance they got) they were generous, helpful, brainy, loving, and fun. They were “can-do” people who didn’t avoid hard work. There was no project they wouldn’t tackle and no hardship they wouldn’t bear to make a friend or family member’s life better.
Don’s many interests included Packer games, fishing, birds-eye maple, family, friends, and forestry. He was passionate about his work and prominent in his field.
Joined in death by his wife, Hope, as well as children Kenny and Beth, who also died in the house explosion, Don is survived by his son Stephen; parents Don and Rose Bragg of Rhinelander, Wisc.; sister Lisa Bragg-Hurlburt of Eau Claire (Jon Hurlburt of Colfax), Wisc.; brother Bob Bragg (Nancy Hopkins) of Sun Prairie, Wisc.; brother John Bragg (Jim Houzner) of Jersey City, N.J.; sister Laurie Bragg-Valaskey (Mark Valaskey) of Cross Plains, Wisc., and brother Bill Bragg (Maiko Chu) of Bradenton, Fla.; nephews Michael, Jonathan, and David Hurlburt; nieces Emma and Leila Hurlburt and Susan Johnston; aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins and dear friends.
The combined visitation for Don, Hope, Kenny, and Beth will take place on Friday, January 19, 2024, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, located at 125 E. King Street, Rhinelander, Wisc., from 4 until 7 p.m., and a second visitation will be held at the church on Saturday morning, January 20, 2024, from 9 until the 11a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Fr. Chris Kemp will officiate. At 10:20 a.m. everyone is invited to be seated, with prelude music to begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by a eulogy at 10:45 a.m.
If your intentions are to process to St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Woodruff, Wisc. after the luncheon, you are asked to park in the church parking lot located directly behind Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Grade School. Attendants will be in the parking lot to assist you. The entrance to the parking lot is located on the east side of Pelham Street.
If you are not attending the committal service, please park in the city owned parking lot on the west side of Pelham Street.
Immediately following the mass, the Bragg family cordially invites family and friends to a luncheon which will be held in the Nativity Catholic Church school gymnasium.
Following the luncheon, at 1:45 p.m. there will be a procession to St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, Woodruff, Wisc., where the Committal Service will take place. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are encouraged to donate to the GoFundMe sites set up for the survivors: (https://gofund.me/d32eff21 and https://gofund.me/a66542b0). The family would like to thank friends and relatives across the country for their condolences and support.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715-365-4343.
